Ali Lee Kai-sum Photo: Snapshot of Sina Weibo

Chinese mainland netizens launched an online campaign to boycott Hong Kong Television Broadcast (TVB) after the station on Sunday awarded an actress who has been accused of supporting secessionists during the 2019 Hong Kong riots. 

Ali Lee (Lee Kai-sum), a 40-year-old Hong Kong actress and television presenter with TVB, won the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress of 2021 on Sunday for her drama AI Romantic. 

The related hashtag began trending on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo on Monday morning. The award has evoked the ire of many netizens, who took to social media to call for a boycott of TVB. 

Netizens condemned the star for once posting some controversial comments during the 2019 Hong Kong riots. According to a screenshot that has gone viral, she gave a like to a photo on Instagram showing the Chinese national flag hanging upside down, adding the comment "beautiful flag." 

"Boycott TVB! TVB did not block the secessionist, but gave her a lot of acting opportunities and even an award! This has crossed our red line," one netizen criticized the station on Sina Weibo.

Some netizens posted screenshots showing that they have been blocked by TVB officials after leaving messages such as "secessionist Lee Kai-sum" on TVB's official Sina Weibo post.

"Lee has two faces: She posted some patriotic content on her Sina Weibo account while expressing her support for Hong Kong riots on Instagram. There must be more secessionists in TVB who support Lee, but there is no way for her to develop her career in the mainland. Boycott Lee, boycott TVB," another netizen commented.